Refrigerating apparatus.



No. 702,062. v Patented June l0, I902: E. W. HOWELL.

RIEFRIGERATING APPARATUS. (Application filed Jun 3, 1901.) v

(No mam.)

3 Sheets-S haet I.

ATTORNEYS No. 702,062. Patented June 10, I902.

E. W. HOWELL.

' BEFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed June 8, 1901.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES: I 'IINVENTOR 'ATTORN EY 5 ms Nonms PETERS 00., FHOTO LWHQ. WASHINGTON. o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

EDWARD HOWELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO HERBERT L.

MAY, 'OFNEVV YORK, NJY.

R F I R INQA PARATU simo crnom a part or tet tei sjr atngnb; 70;,062, datediJune 10, 1902."

Application filed June s. 1901. sem No. 62,324. "(no.m ann T0 CLZZ whom it Weary concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD W. HOWELL,

a citizen of the UnitedStates, and aresident' of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new'and' useful Improvement in Refrigerating Apparatus,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to refrigerating apparatus.

It has for its object to improve and simplify "apparatus for artificial refrigeration, and especially the means employed for distilling the gasammonia,for example'-from the Strong liquor and for absorbing the expanded gas'after refrigeration into the weak liquor ;i also, to render such apparatus more eflicient and rapid in operation and more economical,

It consists of the ovel devices herein shown and described. i

My invention is applicable either to a still absorption.

In the said drawings I haveshown the preferred form or embodimentof my invention, which I will now proceed to describe.

Referring to the formof my invention shown in. the drawings, Figure 1 is a front View of an apparatusembodying myinv'en- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with tion.

the refrigerating-coil and its surroundin'g'box omitted; and Fig. 3 is a vertical diagrammatic section taken throughthe different parts of the apparatus,--althoughnot taken'o'n sorber, and, as shown in the drawings, I prefer to employ two distinct sets of such stills or absorbers, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

each other, so as to permit a free flow of the liquor back and lforth 'betweenthe chambersvin-orderto create and maintain'a circulation to aid in the distillation of the gas from the strong liquor or its absorption in .the weak liquor. In practice Iprefer to use for each still or absorber three distinct chambers, as shown in Fig. 3. One of these, ,the chamber 1, has connected with it'means for heating or cooling fthe liquor in that chamber. The-other chambers 2 2 I willrefer to herein as equalizing-chambers. These equalizing chambers are arranged above the lower chamber land are-connected to each other by a-pipe I preferably connect each equalizing-chamber with the lower chamber by means of atleast two pipes, which have their mouths opening into one 'of the I said chambers at different heights to aid in starting and maintaining a circulation of liquor between, the chambers. In the form shown in the drawings I have shown three pipes connecting each equalizing -chanf1 ber with the-lower chamber 1. Of these pipe t runs from a point near the bottom of chamher 1 up into the top of chamber'2 and opens into said chamber above the top of' the liquor.

Preferably it runs; into and through the;top

ofbhamber 2 and preferably hasla mouth above 'or'at'about the height offthe liquor in chamberfl, as shown in Fig. 3, for'theescape of the flow passing up pipe 4;,fand ,just above the mou'thof'this upperpart'ofpipe 4 are also preferably provided a row ofiholes 5'5 to'als'o permit the escape of 'gas from the pipe into the upper part oii'chamber 2. The formiof this pipe and the naiiner'ofits open-- inginto the topof chamber z ean be varied as desired; 6 is another pipe connecting each equalizing-chamber with the chamberl, and

as shown, the mouths ofth'is pipejopeniat the top of chamber land part way'u'p in chamher 2. The third pipe connectingthe equalizing-chamber with the pipe 1 is pipe 7, which runs from the bottom of chamber 2 to the top of chamber 1. pipes, are open, and some of them are, as shown, arranged at difierent heights in-the chambers. I will first describe the operation of these parts when used as a still.

Any suitable means may be employed in The mouths of these various connection with chamber 1 for heating the strong liquor therein. As shown, I employ a row of burners 8. These heat the strong liquor at and around the bottom of chamber 1 first, causing the gas to be liberated first at that point and producing a flow of heated gas up pipes 4: into the upper part of equalizers 2, heating at once the cold gas in the top of the equalizers remaining unabsorbed from the previous use of the apparatus as an absorber and also aiding in heating the liquor in the equalizers. This heating of the gas at the top of the equalizers at the beginning of the operation is of special value, as a body of cold gas at the top of a still materially retards the process of distillation. By my device heat developed at the bottom of the apparatus is almost immediately conveyed to the top of the still with the above beneficial result. As the liquor in chamber 1 becomes more generally heated an upward flow of gas and heated liquor begins in pipe 6 and a downward flow of colder liquor through pipe 7. A circulation is thus started which is maintained during the entire operation of distilling the gas, and this circulation materially assists in the distillation of the gas from the liquor. Distillation of the gas thus proceeds rapidly and efficiently. WVhen the requisite pressure is obtained, cock 28 and cock 9 are opened, and the heated gas passes through pipes 10 and 11 into condenser 12, where it is cooled by a spray of water proceeding from the perforated pipe 13 and in the usual manner is condensed into liquid anhydrous ammonia, and thence passes into receiver 14:. From here it passes in the usual way through pipe 15, controlled by cock 16, into the refrigerating-coils 17 in refrigerator 18, where it is expanded into a gas and produces cold in the usual way. Cock 19 controls the flow of the liquid anhydrous ammonia. The expanded cold gas thence proceeds back through pipe 20 preferably to the other set of combined still and absorber, where it is absorbed by the weak liquor, as will be presently described.

Both sets of combined stills and absorbers may be used together as stills or absorbers; but in practice I prefer to alternate their use, first using one set as a still and the other set as an absorber, and so on.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the chambers 1 and 2 2 as provided with strong liquor preparatory to distillation and receiver 14 as having a supply of liquid anhydrous ammonia, obtained by distillation from the other set of chambers and preparatory to refrigeration and absorption. Each set is used as an absorber in the following manner: The cold gas from the refrigerating-coils is permitted by cock 21 of pipe 20 to pass from that pipe into and along the bottom of chamber 1. It escapes into the weak liquor from numerous small openings 22 in the part of pipe 20 that projects into chamber 1, as shown in Fig. 3. The weak liquor in chamber 1 is cooled by means of cold water passing through'pipe 13, which in said chamber 1 is formed into coils in the usual manner. This flow is controlled by cocks 23 24. Any other suitable means may be used for cooling the weak liquor, if desired. The weak liquor in chamber 1 is thus cooled before the liquor in equalizers 2 2, and it readily and quickly absorbs the gas. As the liquor becomes more and more saturated with the gas it rises and passes up through pipes 6 6 into equalizers 2, the weaker liquor passing down through pipes 7 7 into chamber 1. A circulation is thus started which is maintained during the entire operation of absorption. This circulation materially aids in the work of absorption and renders it much more efiicient than where a single chamber is employed for the purpose or where chambers are employed which are separate from each other or between which no free [low of the liquor is pos-, sible or is maintained. This circulation proceeds until the gas has been entirely absorbed. The said set of apparatus is then ready to be again used as a still for distilling the gas from the now strong liquor. In my improved apparatus means are provided to permit a free flow of the liquor back and forth between the chambers, so that at all times during the process of distillation or absorption a circulation is maintained between the chambers. The pipes to accomplish this may be arranged differently from those shown in the drawings without departing from my invention so long as circulation between the chambers is permitted. I find in practice, however, that this circulation is materially aided by causing the mouths of some of the pipes to open at different heights in one or more of the chambers, and I also prefer in practice three pipes, connecting each equalizing-chamber with the lower chamber, although these are not essential to my invention in some of its aspects. The number of equalizing-chambers may be varied and be diminished or increased from that shown and the equalizing-chamber and that with which the heating and cooling means are connected may be differently located and arranged from those shown. If desired, the coils of pipe 13 in said chamberl may be used for heating the strong liquor by passing hot wateror steam or other suitable heating agent through them. Pipe 3 tends to maintain the level of the liquor the same in both equalizers.

25, 26, and 27 are the usual gages.

By means of my improved apparatus gas canbe distilled from strong liquor or be absorbed by weak liquor in a refrigerating apparatus with great rapidity and at little cost, and the refrigerating apparatus is efficient, simple, and inexpensive.

Many other changes and modifications than those suggested above can be made in the apparatus shown and described in the drawings and specifications herein without departing from my invention.

The process of distilling and absorbing gas in a refrigerating apparatus herein shown and plication.

described is not claimed in this present appli- What I claim'as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In apparatus adapted for use either as the still or absorber of refrigerating apparatus the combination of a chamber for heating or cooling the liquor, two equalizingchambers arranged above the heating or cool ing chamber so that the entire body of liquor in each equalizing-chamber shall be at a higher level than the body ofliquid in the heating or cooling chamber and pipes freely connecting each of the equalizing-chambers with each other and with the lower chamber, and means connected only with the lower chamber for heating .or cooling the liquor therein, whereby a circulation of the liquor will be established back and forth among the chambers, and thedistillation of the gas from the liquor or its absorption therein will thereby be assisted.

2. In apparatus adapted for use either as the still or absorber of refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a chamber for heat.- ing or cooling the liquor, two equalizingchambers arranged above the heating or cooling chamber, a pipe connecting the equalizing-chambers with each other, two pipes freely connecting each equalizing-chamber with the lower chamber and having their mouths opening into one of the said chamthe liquor arranged one above the other and connected with each other by means of three pipes, one pipe running from near the bottom of the lower chamber to the top of the the, top of the lower chamber to the b0 upper chamber, and openingtherein another of the said pipes running from thetop of the lower chamber and having its mouth opening into the upper chamber at a point part way between the top and the bottom of the said chamber, and the third pipe running from the top of the lower chamber to the bottom of the upper chamber, and means connected with the lower chamber for heatingor cooling the liquor therein, wherebya circulation 6c of the liquor will be established 'ba'ck'and forth between the two chambers, and thedistillation of the gas from the liquor or its abing or cooling the liquor, two equalizingchambers arranged above the heating or cooling chamber, a pipe connecting the equaliz-.

ing-chambers with each other, and three pipes connecting each equalizing-chamber with the lower chamber, one pipe running from near the bottom of the lower chamber to thetop vof the said equalizing-chamber and projecting downward therein and provided in the said downward projection withopenings for theescape of gas, another of the said pipes p running from the top of the lower chamber and having its mouth opening into the said equalizing-chamberat a point partwaybe tween the top and the bottom of the said from om of the said equalizing-chamber, and means connected with the lower chamber for heating or cooling the liquor therein, whereby a circulation of the liquor will be established back chamber, and the third pipe running t and forth among the chambers,and the distillation ofthe gas from the-liquor or its ab sorption therein will thereby be assisted.

In testimony whereof I have signed my nameto this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

EDWIN SEGER, JOHN O. GEMPLER.

EDWARD w. HOWELL. I 

